Bryan Loren

Bryan Loren Hudson (born 1966) is an American singer-songwriter, recording artist and record producer. Hudson is professionally known as Bryan Loren, although he started his music career using his given name, and has significant accomplishments credited as Bryan Hudson, and Bryan "The Wiz" Hudson as well. When Hudson was offered a solo recording contract, he began professionally using Bryan Loren for his attributions. This became the moniker Loren used throughout his music career into the present day. Loren's credits include the number one single "Do the Bartman" (1990), and the number 23 R&B single "Lollipop Luv" (1984). The latter stayed on the R&B chart for 17 weeks. In addition to Loren's success as a solo artist, he has also collaborated with superstar-performers such as Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston.

Early years

Bryan Loren was born on Long Island, New York in 1966.^[1] He moved to South Philadelphia^[4] at a young age. Loren became interested in music at age 5 and began playing drums and other percussion instruments,^[4] eventually appearing on ten Michael Jackson albums as drummer and percussionist.^[5] Loren expanded his musical prowess becoming a multi-instrumentalist. He was able to play all of the instruments used for recording a complete album. Loren said that he remembers being influenced by the South Philly music scene; recalling "TSOP and Phila. International" and songwriting artists "Stevie Wonder, Steely Dan and Herbie Hancock" as specific inspiring examples.^[3]

Music career

Loren began pursuing music professionally from a young age. He was able to compose music by age 12, was a professional session artist from age 15, and even signed his first recording contract at age 17.^[3]

As Bryan Hudson

From 1981, Loren was a session musician at Alpha International Studios. While there, Loren recorded professionally under the tutelage of Nick Martinelli. He recorded with ensembles like Nona Hendrix, Tavares, and Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes.^[3] His credits are as Bryan Hudson for all of his early musical contributions.^[6]

Fat Larry's Band

Fat Larry's Band was the first band that Loren joined as a member. He played synthesizers, and recorded on their 1982 album Breakin’ Out^[7] and 1983's Straight From the Heart.^[8] This is where Loren coined the nickname Bryan "The Wiz" Hudson^[9] for his keyboard wizardry.^[10] The success of these recordings warranted a national album tour, but Loren was too young to join them on the road. He was replaced in the band, though he would record with Fat Larry's Band again; in 1986 for their album, Nice.^[11]

Cashmere

Loren was also a member of Cashmere where he composed music for the 1983 album, Let the Music Turn You On. Loren provided backing vocals as well, showing himself as a talented vocalist.^[12] The owner of Alpha International Studios took notice of Loren's potential, offering him a solo recording contract with Philly World Records. Loren signed the contract, and began performing as Bryan Loren. This would endure as his professional name throughout the rest of his career.^[3]

As Bryan Loren

In 1984, Loren released his self-titled debut on Philly World Records. The album featured two hit singles "Lollipop Luv", which peaked at number 23 on Billboard's R&B chart,^[13] and "Do You Really Love Me",^[14] peaking at number 68.^[15][16] Loren performed and recorded all of the music and vocal tracks on the debut album; handling all executive production, mixing, and engineering for the initial release. The album, Bryan Loren, was re-released in 2012 by BBR Records.

Collaborations

Loren collaborated with other top recording artists including in 1990, when he produced, sung background vocals on, and co-wrote (along with an uncredited Michael Jackson)^[17] the song "Do the Bartman" from The Simpsons Sing the Blues.^[3][18] Jackson was a fan of The Simpsons, and had agreed to write a song for the planned release of The Simpsons Sing the Blues, but because he had recently signed a lucrative deal with Sony Records, giving them exclusivity in exchange for what The Guinness Book of Records recognized as the largest contract ever, reportedly worth $890 million,^[3][19] and the Simpsons album was being released on Geffen Records, Jackson chose to not be credited in any manner on the album. "Do the Bartman" became a number one hit in both the UK and New Zealand, reached number 2 in the Netherlands, and number 4 in Belgium.^[3] Though it was never released as a single in the US, it did spend nine weeks on Billboard's airplay chart, peaking at number 11.^[16] Loren worked with Michael Jackson again, in 1991, on Jackson's album Dangerous. He played drums, and other percussion instruments, on that album.^[20] In 1992 Loren released a followup solo album on Arista Records called Music for the New World. From there, he continued writing songs for other well known performers, including Whitney Houston's "Feels so Good",^[21][22][23] and producing music with other well known artists, Eric Benét, Barry White, and Sting.^[13]

Awards

In 1990 Bryan Loren won the Sony Innovator's award in Sound as reported in July's issue of Ebony.^[24] In giving the award, George Benson said of Loren: "Bryan's got the power of talent, his imagination will take him far." concluding with "We're betting on it."

References